For those of you unaware “ratchet” is like new-age “ghetto”. (Advice to those unaware, move out from under that rock).

As some one who has seen her fair share of ratchet parents, I have also seen quite a few ratchet kids.

It hurts my heart because ratchet tendencies will spread throughout your brain and alter your decision making, like a cancer or dementia. That may sound extreme but those who are unable to turn their “ratchet” back off have trouble finding jobs, live in poverty, marry men with cornrows that barely reach their neck,etc. Bottom line is ratchet-ness is a serious problem affecting today’s youth.

However, I am pleased to announce that ratchet-ness is NOT genetic. Classic Nature vs. Nurture. Can you catch it? YES. Can your children catch it? Definitely. But no one is born with it so everyone has a chance, but no one is immune.

Ratchet-ness is spreading across the internet and the school system like crazy. Please keep an eye out for the regular symptoms:

symptom 1. If you don’t mind leaving the house in a scarf or wave cap, without a bra or proper underwear, with an article of clothing with the following words on it “b**ch, yolo, ni**a, etc.”

symptom 2. If you find yourself angrily screaming at service workers, the elderly, other people’s children, etc, while clapping at every word, with no regard for the people watching

Ratchet-ness in moderation is okay for everybody. If you really want to prevent “Bob Johnson” from turning into “Bob westsidegang Loyaltyovereverything Johnson” then allow yourself a twerk or two so that you will not suppress the urge too long!

As for the children. Expose your kids to more than you have ever seen. Give them a fighting chance and an opportunity to be fully functioning members of society. Ratchet parents are prone to raising ratchet children. If you feel you are too ratchet to raise your baby; befriend someone who is willing to teach your child some un-ratchet ways. So that your children can have a chance to make that choice.

Or raise them to be like lil Boosie’s daughter (so ratchet but she is SO CUTE, and a #thug)

If being afraid to fail is what is stopping you from going out on a limb and reaching your full potential, toss that caution to the wind. Once you actually acheive your goals that will be the main focus, not how many times you did not do what you set out to do. That goes for careers, weight loss, quitting smoking, anything in life. Keep trying, screw what the naysayers are talking about, they do not know your fate or your potential.

The other day me and my two favorite men were out and decided to grab something to eat. All day my bf was like “babe, you want to get some pizza today” “you in the mood for pizza later” etc. so

WE GOT PIZZA!

We went to Mr. Dino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in Bloomfield, NJ on 1st Ave. NOT TO BE CONFUSED with Mr. Dino’s in Montclair!

The ambiance is nothing fancy, a flat screen on the wall and a couple tables and chairs. Not the place for a large group of people or a fancy anything. Just a regular pizzeria, which was appreciated because we were not looking for a date night spot!

We ordered the $6.00 pie special. After ordering the guy who makes the pizza says “you know you have to take this to go because if you eat it here it will be $9.00”. To me that was the most outrageous thing I had ever heard, although my BF thought I was over reacting. I was not paying anyone $3.00 to sit at their table.

To loophole our way around that stupid rule we ordered the pizza to go and garlic knots and drinks to stay.

I am sure you want to know, HOW DID IT TASTE?

I normally think garlic knots are just way too much garlic, but these knots were SO delicious($2.50). If they would infuse their knots with Parmesan cheese, or mozzarella, they would have the tastiest pizza dish yet.

On to the PIZZA! I think that the tastiest thing on a pizzeria’s menu should be the pizza, no matter how good the other dishes are. My ideal pizza has a crispy bottom layer, but a soft edge crust, and a perfect cheese to sauce ratio! (HAHA that whole description is funny to me, but anyway.)

The amount of cheese was awesome! But i needed a little more sauce. The sauce was really good though. I like my sauce to be more sweet than savory and it was just that.

The crust was dry, and the bottom was not as crispy. I think crust should be just as edible as the pizza but whatever.

For the knots, the pizza, a water, and a soda we spent about $11.00!

Very cheap. Not the best pizza ever but it was good and I am going back to get some garlic knots so I can take them home and stuff them with cheese (don’t judge me!). Aside from that I will not be running back. In the future I may try other things from their menu. But if you are out and in the area, I say go in and grab a slice. I have had bad pizza, and this was definitely good pizza!

As my regular readers already know, I have been eating better and working out as part of my (10 simple ways to better myself). I have discovered that of all the workout partners I have ever had, my 9 year old brother is the best yet.

Let me introduce you to Mekhi!

His main objectives are:

Getting a 6-pack

Getting Waves

Getting Girls

(that is a direct quote by the way).

The last couple of days he has been working out with me and here are a few reasons why I prefer exercising with him:

1. MOTIVATION. He has so much energy, so he keeps me motivated.

2. NO PRESSURE When I am too tired to continue and he is still going, I do not feel like I am lazy, I just say it is because he is so much younger than I am.

3. HEALTHY COMPETITION When he quits and I am still going, I feel like I am on top of the world, because having more stamina than a 9 year old makes you feel pretty good about yourself.

4. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT After one day of working out he said to me “you know what, you look like you have lost some weight, and I am not saying that to be nice; I do not want to be nice”. and that was the nicest thing I had heard all month!

5. CONSTANT REMINDER He is so excited to come workout everyday. He reminds me CONSTANTLY that it is time to exercise, so I never miss a day.

6. IT IS JUST SIMPLY A LOT MORE FUN!!!

Those are my 6!

Go find you a young relative or child of your own who wants to workout and I bet you will have a good time.

Make sure that they actually want to workout, if not they will just goof around and that will be annoying, trust me.

I can run done the list of things that she is not the best or greatest at, BUT I will admit that I know the lyrics to her songs, I turn her up when she is on the radio, and I recognize her talent. I also understand that she is not the best of all time in any category BUT a perfect combination of better than everyone else out RIGHT NOW in enough categories to generate noticeable fanfare!

Also her brand, branding initiatives, and public relations practice are top notch. She makes a bunch of the right moves at the right time and that is definitely the makings of a great business, she is of course a business.

HOWEVER what is wrong with the people of the world? You guys act like she parted the red sea!

Someone with that much influence I expect to hear A LOT MORE charitable, and socially responsible efforts, but whatever! I can not force anyone to save the world.That is not even why I am writing this post; because despite my many complaints – I am a fan.

I am just confused as to why she is praised so heavily. To the point where if you say anything wrong about her people unfriend you on facebook. There is a class in her name, and an article floating around that says you can obtain a Beyonce degree..WHAT!